Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-03-05

THE ASSEMBLY. CAMDEN'S
EFFORTS TO CONTROL
HIS FORCES-THE
REPUBLICANS
HAPPY.
CHARLESTON, w. VA, Feb. 25.-
After a day largely spent in joint
assembly wrangling and ballotting
in the vain attempt to elect a sue
cessor to Senator Camden, the leg
islature has made a signal failure Of
it, and adjourned without choosing
a senator to represent the state dur
ing the ensuing term. The scenes
enacted during the day beggar de-
scription and have no parallel in the
history of the state. The members
belonging to both parties spent
most of last night in endeavoring
to map out a plan Of action for TO-
day, the Camden Democratic eau
Gus, which was in session until two
o'clock this morning, being a par
ticnlarly lively gathering. Although
the senator's champions have all
along presented an unbroken front,
it was developed at the caucus that
at least a dozen of his friends con-
sidered his election hopeless, and
after a lively session, the gentlemen
who were in this frame of mind gave
it out that after the third ballot to-
day, they would cut loose from Cam
den and seek some other candidate.
When the joint session convened,
at noon to-day, Camden was on the
floor in person, and was evidently
prepared to die fighting. The crowd
in attendance was enormous. Every
inch of space affording a foothold
for spectators was occupied. Cam
den held his regular forces well in
hand until the third ballot, but fail
ed to receive the votes of Senators
Snyder and Minear, the Republicans
who broke away from their col
leagues, aud cast their ballots for
him yesterday. Delegate Whitaker,
Republican, of Wheeling, stuck to
him however. At the end Of the
third ballot the Democrats forced a
recess until $3.50 p. m., in order to
further debate the situation, but the
Camden men refused to keep to-
gether, despite all the arguments
which the Senator and his lieuten-
ants could bring to bear. On re-
assembling the scene was of the live
liest description. Members were on
their feet all over the hall, hurling
personalities, accusations, abuse and
all sorts of assertions at each other,
and it looked at one time as though
the char would be powerless to pre-
serve order. Finally, however, a
fourth ballot was taken, Camden
falling off to 80. Golf (Rep.) polled
81; Judge Morrow (Dem.) s; w.
Fl. 81. Flick (Rep.) 2; Senator Som
merville (Dem.), of Brooke, who had
been nominated by Senator Brown,
4; and the rest scattering.
The disorder then broke out afresh,
and it was five o'clock when the fifth
ballot was taken. Camden dropped
again to %; Sommerville went up
to 8; Morrow went to 10, and the
Republicans and remaining Demo
Gratis scattered all over the field
All hope OF an election was now
over, but the joint assembly took a
recess until Z 80 p. m, when it was
agreed another ballot should be
taken. Both parties Immediately
went into caucus, all the Democrats
uniting IN the hope of agreeing upon
some one satisfactory to the two
factions. An hour of wrangling con-
WINGED everybody that this was a
hopeless task, and they agreed to
give it up. At 7:30, when the two
houses again assembled, it was
moved to adjourn the joint conven-
ton sine die without proceeding to
ballot, and this prevailed. At
ten O'Clock both houses are in session.
Business is in a chaotic condition
the General Appropriation bill not
even having passed. 1t is expected